Titans turn into teacher's pet

Good books ... the Titans lead the way in penalties received. Source: AAP

Gold Coast Titans have become the NRL's golden child. The new teachers' pet with referees, the Titans have been rewarded with more penalties a game this year than any team in the past decade.

The Titans have received 72 penalties this season, seven more than their nearest NRL rival Cronulla and 12 more than Friday night's opponents Brisbane.

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Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart and St George Illawarra's Steve Price have complained about the lopsided penalty count after narrow losses to the Titans.

Price's men were against a 12-6 penalty count last Sunday while Stuart's Eels battled with an 8-1 second half penalty count that resulted in a stunning outburst from the coach and $10,000 fine.

		W	L	D	B	PD	Pts
1	Rabbitohs	8	1	0	0	72	16
2	Roosters	7	2	0	0	138	14
3	Storm	7	2	0	0	77	14
4	Sea Eagles	6	3	0	0	71	12
5	Knights	5	4	0	0	36	10
6	Titans	5	4	0	0	16	10
7	Raiders	5	4	0	0	-39	10
8	Broncos	4	5	0	0	11	8
9	Sharks	4	5	0	0	6	8
10	Cowboys	4	5	0	0	-8	8
11	Bulldogs	4	5	0	0	-9	8
12	Panthers	3	6	0	0	-40	6
13	Dragons	3	6	0	0	-63	6
14	Eels	3	6	0	0	-71	6
15	Warriors	2	7	0	0	-77	4
16	Tigers	2	7	0	0	-120	4

The Titans and Sharks have received 16 penalties more than they've conceded this year, while the likes of Sydney Roosters (-14), Parramatta (-12), Wests Tigers (-12) and Manly (-11) have fallen foul of whistleblowers in 2013.

At this rate, the Titans will join the Parramatta Eels (in 2007 and 2004) as the only NRL clubs to receive eight penalties a game since Fox Sports Stats started compiling that statistic in 2002.

Broncos centre Jack Reed was not aware the Titans were leading the NRL for penalties, but said his side must lift their discipline as the 13th-most penalised team with 63 this year.

"We wouldn't have a clue (about the Titans). We're trying to cut out our penalties,'' Reed said.

"It's going to be a big part of it this week. If we can win the penalty count it's always a good way to winning the game as well.''

Broncos forward Josh McGuire said the penalty count for the Titans could be attributed to luck, but also added they play their footy off the back of a dominant forward pack that can be difficult to contain.

With the likes of Greg Bird and Nate Myles leading a powerful engine room, the Titans build strong momentum that can be tough for the opposition to stop.

"Each week it is interpreted differently by each referee. The Titans can be lucky but they do fire up and play some good footy so we have to fight fire with fire and give it back to them,'' McGuire said.

"They are a big forward pack and they just go hard and play an aggressive style. If we play down the middle and play it fast we can trouble them."

Broncos forward Alex Glenn said his men would get the job done against the Titans if they focused on their defensive duties.

Brisbane conceded soft early points to Parramatta last week and Glenn said keeping a strong defensive line would be key to getting a result.

"The Titans have been playing some great football,'' Glenn said.

"They've got a great forward pack. It's a big challenge but if we're defending well we will get the two points.

"You always expect big games like this to be close. If we're doing everything right and making sure our defence is going well I'm sure we will get the points that we need.''

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